Automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus



(No Model.)

D. O. STILLSON.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

No. 326,691. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

E1EE 5 E S I \ZE DI STATES NiTE ATENT Fries.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,691, datedSeptember 22,1885.

(No model.)

To 61. whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL G. STILLSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, (Somerville,) in the county of Middlesex and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus; and I do here by declare thatthe same are fully described in the following specification, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus of thatclass wherein one or more sprinkling pipes are supplied from a reservoircontaining the extinguishing liquid under pressure, com municationbetween the reservoir and the sprinkling-pipe being effected by themelting of a fusible plug or plugs and the admission of air to anauxiliary pipe by which the valve is controlled.

It is the purpose of my invention to simplify this class of apparatus byavoiding the necessity of preserving a constant pressure within thereservoir. The pressure is not exerted until the moment a conllagrationbreaks out, thereby avoiding the use of valves in the eductionpipe,which, by long cont-act, are liable to adhere to the valve-seat andbecome inoperative. It is also my object to render the mechanismautomatic by the employment of an extremely light weight upon thetrippinglever, the necessary force being exerted by an auxiliary weightbalanced upon the fulcrum of the lever and brought into operation by theslight inclination of the lever consequent upon the fusion of theair-plug and the sinking of the lever-support.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construct-ionand combinations of parts hereinafter set forth, and definitely pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 isa central vertical section, partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view.Fig. 3 is a detailplan view of the tripping-lever detached.

In the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes a reservoirin.w-hi ch is contained water or any suitable fire-extinguishing con1-pound. This tank may be of any suitable form; but I prefer a cylindricalshape, the diameter being small relatively to the depth. Leading fromthe bottom of the reservoir 1 is a pipe, 2,which supplies asprinkling-pipe, 3, the latter being arranged in the usual manner.Resting upon the surface of the liquid contained within the tank 1 is aplunger, 4, having an expanding packing-ring, 5, set in a groove, 6, inthe periphery of the plunger and bearing against the inner face of thecylinder. Perforations 7 are formed in the lower flange of the groove,opening behind the packing, whereby, upon the forcible descent of theplunger, the liquid will flow in behind the ring and drive it againstthe cylinder-wall, thereby packing the joint more or less tightly,according to the force exerted upon the plunger. The later is providedwith a frame, 8, which is connected by an eyebolt, 9, to a pulley, 10,having a cord, 11, which passes over a second pulley, 12, and thence toa drum, 13, carried by a shaft journaled in brackets 14 upon the ceilingor other suitable support. A ratchet, 15, is mounted upon thedrum-shaft, and a pawl, 16, pivoted on one of the brackets 14, engageswith said ratchet and sustains the plunger 4 together with the heavyweights 17 placed thereon. In this manner the liquid in the tank and theeduction-pipe stands at the same height, no pressure being exerted inthe reservoir.

Attached to the rear end of the pawl 16 is a. cord, wire, orsimilarconnection, 18, which passes down and is connected to the stem19, which moves vertically in the wall of the airchamber 20, carrying adisk, 21, which rests upon the expansible diaphragm 22. The chamber 20is connected by a pipe, 23,with an air-pump, 2a, by which air is forcedin beneath the diaphragm, forcing it, together with the disk 21 and stem19, upward, and relaxing the wire 18 to such a degree that the pawl 16remains in engagement with the ratchet 15. To the stem 19 is attached alever, 25, pivoted upon a fulcrum, 26, and carrying a weight, 27, uponits outer end. Upon each side of the lever 25 is an auxiliary arm, 28,parallel with it and supported at the ends only. Upon each arm ismounted an auxiliary weight, 29, having friction-rolls 30, which restupon the arm and permit the weight to move with great ease. Theseauxiliary weights in use are placed upon the fulcrum 26 in such positionthat they balance without exerting force upon either side. Tapped intothe pipe 23 is an airpipe,

3l,which connects with the pipe 31, having at suitable intervals fusibleplugs 32, formed of an alloy which melts at a given temperature. Thelatter pipe is distributed in and about the rooms or buildings, and mayhave any number of branches, as also may the sprinkling-pipe. Connectedto the lever 25, between the fulcrum and the power, is a wire, 33,which,by means of bell-cranks 31, may be conducted to a gong or other signalat any distant point. The parts being in the position shown in thedrawings, upon the fusion of any one of the plugs in the pipe 31 the airwill rush from beneath the diaphragm 22, allowing the stem 19 todescend, and giving a sufficient inclination to the lever 25 to startthe traveling auxiliary weights 29, which roll to the power end of thelever and trip the pawl 16. The plunger 4 being thus left withoutsupport rests with the entire interposed Weight upon the liquid in thetank, and the discharge through the sprinkling-pipe begins immediatelyand continues until it is arrested by the engagement of the pawl 16 withthe ratchet, or by the exhaustion of the tank. At the moment the leveris operated in the manner described, it sounds the alarm at the officeor any other point by means of the wire 33. The packing-ring 5 is not inoperative contact with the cylinder while the plunger is supported, I

but the moment the supporting-tackle is released it is forced out in themanner described .ploying a light weight upon the lever 25, also thedanger of gradual leakage of air is avoided,

and as this construction permits the employment of auxiliary weights ofany size, the operation of the tripping mechanism is rendered tainingwater or other extinguishing-fluid, of

a weighted piston or plunger, a tackle by which it is suspended, a pawlholding the drum carrying the rope, a tripping-lever supported by anexpansible diaphragm, and an auxiliary weight or weights balanced uponthe fulcrum of said lever and carried by side arms attached thereto,substantially as described.

3. In an automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combinatiomwith atripping-lever, of side armsattached thereto at the ends only and havingtraveling auxiliary weights mounted thereon, an actuating-weight, and anexpansible diaphragm supporting said lever and actuated by the releasingmechanism, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combinatipn, withthe reservoir, of

phragm, and a pipe communicating with said chamber and having fusibleplugs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

DANIEL O. STILLSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY GHADBOURN, SARAH M. GOODRIOH.

